February 26, 2023

TOPEKA – The University of Sioux Falls Softball team split on the final day of the Washburn Invite defeating Newman University 9-4 and falling to Fort Hays State 14-0. The Cougars finished the weekend 3-2 and move to 3-6 on the season.

Sioux Falls opened their first game of the day scoring in every inning as they defeated the Jets of Newman University.

Rylie Jones opened the game with a single to shallow left field then stole three bases before Kait Van Der Zwaag brought her in for the Cougars first run of the day. With Lexie Swift on second, Kennedy Thomas hit her first of three doubles to score Swift before retiring the side.

Allie McCabe had the lone homer today as she sent a shot over the center field fence as her first career homerun.

With Van Der Zwaag on the mound, the Cougars shutout the Jets for three innings before their bats came alive in the fourth to pull themselves with in one and ending the fourth 5-4, USF.

Sioux Falls answered back as Thomas hit her third double to open the top of the fifth. Megan Lawson and Kylie Madrid paired up to bring Thomas home following a sac bunt as well as a sac fly.

With a 6-4 lead, USF continued to keep their foot on the gas as they picked up two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to take the 9-4 victory over Newman.

Thomas led the Cougars with three hits, all of which were doubles, in three at bats with one RBI as she crossed the plate twice on the day. She also picked up the win for the Cougars as she pitched 3.1 innings while recording six strikeouts and just one walk.  

UP NEXT

The Cougars will be back in action next weekend as they head down to Clermont, Florida to take part in The Spring Games. Sioux Falls will face 10 teams over the week and fans are encouraged to follow along on the GameChanger app.

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